Brown Girl Magazine
  • Home
  • Trending
    • In the News
    • Feminism
    • Politics
  • Entertainment
    • Bollywood
    • East-Meets-West
    • Filmy Buzz
    • Music
    • Cinema
    • BG Poetry
    • Good Reads
  • Culture
    • Social Activism
    • Breaking Taboos
    • Colonial Effects
    • Humanities
    • Identity
    • Indo-Caribbean
    • Tradition
  • Lifestyle
    • Beauty Buzz
    • Fashion
    • Foodie
    • Career
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    • Women’s Health
    • Clean Eats
    • Fitness 101
  • Relationships
    • Dating
    • Love
    • Parenting
    • Marriage
    • Sexuality
  • Community
    • BG Youth
    • Black Lives Matter
    • USA
    • United Kingdom
    • Canada
    • South Asia
    • Spotlight
  • Brown Boy
  • Listen
shop
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Trending
    • In the News
    • Feminism
    • Politics
  • Entertainment
    • Bollywood
    • East-Meets-West
    • Filmy Buzz
    • Music
    • Cinema
    • BG Poetry
    • Good Reads
  • Culture
    • Social Activism
    • Breaking Taboos
    • Colonial Effects
    • Humanities
    • Identity
    • Indo-Caribbean
    • Tradition
  • Lifestyle
    • Beauty Buzz
    • Fashion
    • Foodie
    • Career
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    • Women’s Health
    • Clean Eats
    • Fitness 101
  • Relationships
    • Dating
    • Love
    • Parenting
    • Marriage
    • Sexuality
  • Community
    • BG Youth
    • Black Lives Matter
    • USA
    • United Kingdom
    • Canada
    • South Asia
    • Spotlight
  • Brown Boy
  • Listen
shop
No Result
View All Result
Brown Girl Magazine
No Result
View All Result
Home BGBlog

Iftaar Chronicles: Love in the Food Line

Brown Girl Magazine by Brown Girl Magazine
August 12, 2022
in BGBlog, Culture
0 0
0
Iftaar Chronicles: Love in the Food Line
0
SHARES
1
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

by Naila Sheikh

As we are approaching the end of Ramadan while the countdown to Eid has begun, we are to conclude this spiritual journey in much contemplation and inner thoughts. Some of them, spiritually uplifting and some, mundane such as the described, rather comedic scenario below.

Where there is good food in the presence of hungry onlookers or the suppressing of the wandering eye and lustful thoughts, the opening of Iftaar must make for an unspoken conversation amongst the daydreamers, the hopeless romantics, especially when delirious of fasting. ?
Scenario: the Ramadan FOOD LINE
Scene: larka larki.    (transl: boy, girl).
[Larka stands in stiff pose, not moving an inch.]
Larki ?: Observant of broad shoulders, but lowers gaze immediately. “Nice shirt,” she thinks.
Larka ?: “Say Hi,” say it already. “Hey” or “Hi” and I’ll turn – what’s so damn difficult?
Larki ?: Can’t he say “Hi”? Why should I say it first? Hmm, well I do see him right here. Oh god. RIGHT. HERE.
Larka ?: you’re seriously gonna let go of this chance? The line’s moving.
Larki ?:  why oh why did I NOT style my hair properly. Argh. From all the days in my life, it had to be THIS day…
[Aunty intersects.]
? ?: “AssalamoAlaikum (may peace be upon you) beta! Long time no see! How is your Ammi doing? She didn’t call me back! I heard you graduated valedictorian! You’re so smart! I tell my daughters to follow your example. Beautiful and intelligent!
[She pinches my cheek]
My son is going to Med School. You know him right? Mohsin is tall and handsome now and soon he’ll be a doctor. He’s also very outdoorsy, loooooves to hike! You should talk to him!”
[Nudges me while pointing at her superstar son]
Larki ?: Wow. Is this really happening? Aunty is so loud. I bet “he” is being entertained. Oh god. Worst. Timing. Ever!
[Aunty blabbers on.]
??:  “I’m on Facebook as ‘Nargis Jee’ – just add me. I’ll send you my friend request. It is so good to see you, beta. Your hair is nice and long, very pretty.”
Larki ?: “Jee”
[She smiles and nods all the while thinking.]
Larki ? : Hell no! I ain’t adding her! I’d be the latest gossip around town. Pffff, probably wants to show Dr. Mohsin my profile pics. He’s so obnoxious, thinking he’s all that. Ugh. I wonder what “he” is thinking? Did he listen to all this nonsense? Oh man, I hope my friendliness towards Aunty didn’t mislead him into thinking that I’m interested in her son!
Larka ?: Haha, she’s cute under pressure. She’d love my mom.
Okay, well… now I’m moving, putting food on my plate. I’m still slow motion, though. Woman. Hurry. Say salaam or something. Anything. What’s wrong with her. *Grinds teeth*
Larki ?:  What’s wrong with me?! Argh. Is it my dignity, ego or am I really shy? Okay. He’s moving. Great. I’m usually so witty. I could’ve poked one shoulder and said, “Hey, it is against Sharia Law to stand in line before women, you know that right? Now you must repent and ask serious forgiveness for your grave food line sins…” I’d keep a poker face on while being calm and collected, then he would smile. A big smile, I imagine. Maybe say something witty back? And if not, then I would’ve teased a bit further or pursue a regular/civilian/boring small talk, with a twinkle in my eye.
Larka ?: Great. I’m now plating some salad, it’s the end of the buffet. Perhaps I’ll stand here and see if she notices.
Larki ?: I notice! I see. What can I do now? Okay, I get it. I didn’t say “Hi.” But don’t just stand there. Maybe pretend you just saw me? Walk up to me? Or maybe not? Ohhh. He left. Justtttt great. Wasted all this time thinking when all it took was the utterance of a three letter word…”Hey!”

NailaNaila Sheikh resides with her husband and two kids in Houston, TX. Born and raised in Holland, she has a keen interest to keep up with the current affairs around the world. Her everyday life, apart from playing mommy, also consists of Food Blogging on her website: NailasKitchen.com.

Tags: CulturedatingeidiftaarRamadan

Recent Posts

  • Sun and Skincare: South Asian Beauty Influencers Share Their Summer Season Must-Haves
  • Kayan Opens up About her Music Artistry
  • Decoding Dopamine Dressing This Summer
  • In Conversation With Ashok Amritraj: Celebrating his 40-Year Legacy
  • Enduring the Fight for Freedom

Recent Comments

  1. Op-Ed: Rihanna, Savage X Fenty, and the Continued Misuse and Disrespect of Hinduism on Dark Goddesses and me: Religious Colorism in Hindu India
  2. Celebrating International Mother Language Day and Multilingualism on On Language and Home: Revisiting Jhumpa Lahiri’s ‘In Other Words’
  3. What International Mother Language Day Means to British Bangladeshis on Celebrating International Mother Language Day with Self Reflection and Reclaiming One’s Bangladeshi Identity
  4. Book Review: Understanding Public Health on Deeper Level with 'Health Care of a Thousand Slights' by Anjana Sreedhar on Pursuing Inspiration: Former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy on Health Care, and Self-Care
  5. Book Review: ‘ZOM-FAM’ by Kama La Mackerel on Grazing Over Pages of Identities Unmilked: ‘The Cowherd’s Son’
Facebook-f Twitter Instagram Youtube Envelope

About

Founded as an online publication in 2008, Brown Girl Magazine is a multimedia company based in New York City with global reach dedicated to South Asian self-expression, cultural anchoring, and dialogue.
Through diverse, multimedia content and community building, we empower and engage those who identify as a part of the South Asian diaspora with a hyphenated identity.

Subscribe To The Spark

A curated newsletter full of dinner-table worthy topics, thought provoking stories, promo codes and the spiciest memes straight to your inbox.

Categories

  • Entertainment
  • Culture
  • Lifestyle
  • Health
  • Relationships
  • Community
  • Brown Boy

©Copyright Brown Girl Magazine Inc.

  • Company
  • About
  • Contact
  • Join
  • Advertise
  • Sponsored Content
  • Privacy Policy
  • Term of use
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Trending
    • In the News
    • Feminism
    • Politics
  • Entertainment
    • Bollywood
    • East-Meets-West
    • Filmy Buzz
    • Music
    • Cinema
    • BG Poetry
    • Good Reads
  • Culture
    • Social Activism
    • Breaking Taboos
    • Colonial Effects
    • Humanities
    • Identity
    • Indo-Caribbean
    • Tradition
  • Lifestyle
    • Beauty Buzz
    • Fashion
    • Foodie
    • Career
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    • Women’s Health
    • Clean Eats
    • Fitness 101
  • Relationships
    • Dating
    • Love
    • Parenting
    • Marriage
    • Sexuality
  • Community
    • BG Youth
    • Black Lives Matter
    • USA
    • United Kingdom
    • Canada
    • South Asia
    • Spotlight
  • Brown Boy
  • Listen

© 2023 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?
Go to mobile version